1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Delaware County Libraries, with grant funding from Rotary District 7450 and the Rotary Clubs of Chester, Media, Swarthmore and Wayne, are working County-wide to encourage parents and their little ones to be part of the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program.

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is a nationally recognized program that encourages parents and caregivers of preschoolers to read regularly with their children in order to develop the early literacy skills that are essential for school success. Research has shown that the most reliable predictor of school success is how often a child is read to during the early years. Reading to children from an early age can develop vocabulary, increase letter recognition, and improve comprehension and narrative skills that are essential for learning to read. Most importantly, sharing books with children promotes a lifelong love of books and reading!

It's easier to read 1000 books than you think! If you read one book a day with your child from the time they are born until they turn five, you will have read 1,825 books! To make it even easier, DCL is also offering 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten backpacks for County-wide circulation. The backpacks are filled with a mix of 10 classic and new picture books and board books along with early literacy tips. Anyone can check out the backpacks by visiting www.delcolibraries.org and searching 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. Backpacks can also be found at participating libraries.